Smart Bottoms has recently started retailing in Canada, and this American cloth diaper company was even featured in the March issue of Canadian Family magazine. When I was asked to be one of the first Canadian bloggers to review the Smart One 3.1, an organic, one-size AIO cloth diaper, I jumped at the chance to get my girl in this fun Wild Thing print.
Anatomy of a Smart Bottoms Smart One 3.1 AIO Diaper
The Smart One 3.1 is an organic, one-size, AIO (all in one) cloth diaper that fits most babies from 8-35 pounds. All in one means there’s no need for a cover or inserts – this type of diaper is most similar to a disposable diaper in that regard. Smart One diapers come in 6 solids and 4 prints, and only in snap closure.
The Smart One 3.1 comes with two rows of 10 waist snaps and two snaps on each wing to adjust the size at the waist and leg. This diaper doesn’t have hip snaps or crossover snaps. The size and rise is adjustable with three rows of three rise snaps.
The inside of the Smart One 3.1 is made from 100% certified organic cotton and features a snake-style insert attached at the back of the diaper. It has an elasticized back and a flat front with a strip of PUL along the inside to help stop wicking at the tummy. This PUL strip is one of my favourite features.
Here’s how the sizes compare.
It’s important to know that the oils naturally present in cotton have not been stripped out with chemicals, so you do need to wash the diaper 6-8 times before it reaches full absorbency. Smart Bottoms recommends testing your diaper’s absorbency by pouring a little bit of water on the insert. If it runs off or pools on the fabric for even a second, you’ll need to wash it again to remove the rest of the oils.
Diaper Fit and Performance
Here’s Kay in her Smart One 3.1 – look how trim this diaper is! At 21 months and 26 pounds, she still has another row of rise snaps to go, so there’s plenty of room left to grow. The waist and legs fit well, and even though Smart One diapers don’t come with hip snaps, I have never had an issue with wing droop.
I like the organic cotton snake-style insert. It washes better and dries quicker than old-style AIO’s where the absorbent pad is sewn into the body of the diaper. It might take a bit of trial and error to find the best configuration for your baby, but the benefit to this style of insert is its versatility. You can simply double it up, or you can customize the absorbency where your baby needs it most with three layers up front for boys or three layers in the middle for girls.
The extra wide and gentle elastic never gave Kay red marks. It isn’t encased, which seemed to help roll the edges of the leg holes in and kept the inside edges from wicking when wet. I would rate it as average in absorbency (a couple of hours for Kay), but you can add a booster for extra absorbency if you want. Smart Bottoms sells hourglass-shaped cotton or hemp boosters to fit these diapers. On one occasion, hubs forgot to change Kay after her nap and we did experience leaking. Considering it had been over 3.5 hours though, I wasn’t surprised.
I like this diaper for going out as it’s so trim and fits so well under Kay’s pants and even jeans. I do find the crotch to be a bit narrower than other diapers in my stash, which I think is why I discovered some “overflow” the one time she pooped in this diaper. It wasn’t that it leaked out, but it sort of spread out to the edges. (Sorry if that’s TMI, but I thought it was important to report.)
Kay is always on the go, and after she’s been racing around for a while the insert tends to bunch up in the crotch. She hasn’t complained about this, but I worry it’s not as comfortable as a smooth inside layer like you would have with a pocket diaper or an AIO with sewn in insert. Despite this, I wouldn’t trade the snake-style insert for a sewn in soaker though. As long as Kay doesn’t seem to mind the bunching, the reduced drying time makes up for it.
Final Thoughts
The Smart Bottoms Smart One 3.1 is a cute and trim diaper, ideal for babysitters and grandparents because there are no extra pieces to worry about. It’s very trim under clothes and jeans, and you can easily customize the absorbency with the snake-style insert. Depending on the build of your baby, the narrower crotch can be a benefit or a drawback. Skinnier babies will likely appreciate the trimmer fit and less bulk between their legs, but it does mean slightly less coverage than average. This is a great diaper for daytime use and naps, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it for overnight use, especially with a heavy wetter like mine.
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Shop
Smart One 3.1 diapers retail for $25.00. Shop on the Smart Bottoms website or look for a retailer near you.
Want to Win?
Smart Bottoms is generously sponsoring a fantastic giveaway in next weekβs Eco-Friendly Summer Giveaway Hop. Come back then to enter to win a Smart One 3.1 diaper of your very own. Sign up for my emails to make sure you donβt miss this giveaway or any of my other posts.
Disclosure: I received a sample item for review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.
I love “waist extenders” and the “seat saver”! I’ve never seen either of those products anywhere else…both are a fab gadgets!
The waist extenders are pretty nifty!
I would love to try the tie die, it’s so cute! But I like the trim fit of this diaper and that it is made in the USA!
I would choose the George print because I love that color combo!
I love that they’re an AIO and that its organic . I love the George diaper.
I like the Gorilla Blue print π The waist extenders are a great idea!
I let hubby decide the color and he said “tie dye and if we like it we may as well buy some more” – I’m okay with that!
I just love the Dino print they are so cute nice bright colors. My nephew would look so cute in them.
Thanks for the review! We will be new to cloth diapering in January and I’m trying to learn all I can ! I love that they grow with baby and the Smart One 3.1 seems like it would be perfect to start with!
I would love to have a Juliet, a Mia and a Wild Thing! They are all so cute!!
After seeing the giraffe print in your review, I would just love to have that one! Cute!!
I love the Smart One in pink!
I’ve read great things about these cloth diapers. I think i would choose the Tie dye π
I love the wild thing pattern. We are big giraffe fans around here!!
The Emerson pattern ia adorable!!
I absolutely love the Wild Thing print!!!
I’m loving the Wild Thing print!!
Love the Emerson print!!
my favorite colors are mia and finch
I knooowww that this was the diaper on your review, but their favorite print to me is the giraffe! I swear it’s the cutest. And could go for boy or girl EASILY!
I’d choose Ella but love the giraffe print too. So cute.
I like the emerson, finch, and tie dye diapers. so cute!
the diaper a re great idea and better than having to have to use pins and then less danger for the baby and then the dipaer are coming out in differnt styles
I love the Bloom print, it’s so pretty and feminine. That would be my first pick of print.
I like the wild thing print!
I love that it’s made in the USA and the wild thing print is my favorite.
I would choose wild thing print, amazing!
Would love to try out their swim diapers too!
I love the George print so I would go with that one.
I love the colors of Finch.
I would love Wild thing or Mia
I would choose Tye Dye or Wild Thing – so cute!
I’d definitely pick the wild thing print!
I love the Emerson print!
Finch print is cute!
I would choose the wild thing print. So cute.
Thank you for this review! I have herd of smart bottoms but havent seen any reviews! Looks like a pretty awesome diaper! Love how trim it looks π
I have been eyeing a couple smart bottoms diapers for this next one, and finding your review just makes me hope someone gets one off my registry all that much more!
Nice review. I bet this one would work with my slim baby boy.